Days had turned into weeks and still Inuyasha could find no trace of Kagome. He had fought too many battles to count. Some with youkai out to kill a hanyou, and some sent by Kagedoku to slow him down. He was tired and lost. Hope was leaving him and he returned to the one person, besides Kagome who had always given him a measure of comfort. It was only six weeks until their pup would be born. He couldn't bear the thought of missing that, of never seeing their pup. He leaned his head against the trunk of his mother's tree and finally allowed himself to feel the loss of her, and he cried. He cried until he slumped to the ground and until exhaustion over took him.

"Inuyasha will come for me, of that I am sure." Kagome said.

"Surely a demon would not risk himself for a human." Aiko said.

"He is a half demon and he would gladly die for me." Kagome told her. "He cries for me even now, under the tree he planted to mark the grave of his human mother." She smiled sadly. "He would not despair for me if he could still feel our connection, as I can. I guess the barrier around this place blocks that as well." she smiled again, though this time it was a true smile. "His mother is going to take care of him now."

"My sweet Koinu, tell me you have not forgotten my words." the soft voice of his mother spoke to him in his dreams. "You have forgotten to trust in her love. Seek her not with the gifts of your demon side but with your heart. You have been letting him trick you. He can shield your connection, not break it. Search within yourself, she is with you."

Inuyasha's eyes snapped open. "Mother?" he asked. He closed his eyes again and concentrated on Kagome, on his love for her and their pup. He cried out when he once again felt what he thought had been lost. Kagome, his Kagome was to the south, and she was waiting.

"He is coming." Kagome said. "I swear to you that Kagedoku will be destroyed. He has sealed his fate. Should he kill Inuyasha I will destroy him and should he kill me Inuyasha will do the same. It seems I will not need to ask for your help after all."

Kagome returned to her place by the window. Time was running out and she was no closer to figuring out what her dreams meant than she was when she was taken. No matter how hard she tried, the images and feelings would not fit together as they should.

At the end of the week Kagedoku strode into her room. He laughed at her. "Still waiting for your mate. Well, your wait is over. He comes. Now I will have what I seek. Lend me your power Miko."

"I can't, I won't." she told him.

Kagedoku backed her into a corner and pulled open her kimono exposing her large belly. He drug his claw across her skin. Kagome cried out and she could feel the warm blood running down across her stomach. "You will, or you will watch as I rip the pup out of you." he said.

"No, please, not my baby." Kagome cried. She crossed her arms protectively over her stomach.

Kagedoku laughed again. Humans are so weak and pathetic. "Will you do as I ask?"

"Yes." Kagome replied. "Inuyasha I'm sorry." Kagome released her power into Kagedoku and slumped to the floor.

Inuyasha stopped suddenly. He felt Kagome diminish. She has done it then. He knew that the only reason she would give over her power would be to protect their pup. He could not be upset with her. That was her first duty as his mate and she had fulfilled it, knowing the cost, and though he knew the cost as well, he continued on. In his haste, he ran into a barrier.

He drew Tetsusaiga and it turned red. He swung at the barrier, but the sword bounced off and out of his hands, but his hands continued through the barrier. What the hell? He went and retrieved his sword. He reached out and his arm passed through the barrier. He stepped through but was stopped by the hand that held Tetsusaiga. So, he doesn't want me to bring my sword. Ha, still afraid of my old man. I guess he doesn't know that it's me he should really be afraid of.

"Kirara, stay here and keep Tetsusaiga safe for me." he said, and he went through the barrier.

Kagome could feel herself within Kagedoku and the hatred that coursed with in him. She had managed to hold on to a small part of herself, that allowed her to continue to think, though she could not move, or even open her eyes. I am running out of time. She let her mind consider again what she had been shown. What have I almost lost? The jewel, Inuyasha, my soul...my soul... Kikyou... In a rush it all came flooding back to her. She had been stripped of her soul and hearing Inuyasha whisper her name, she had fought to take it back.. Surely it can't be that simple. It doesn't matter, I have to try. Please Kami, let me be right.

Then she felt it wash over her. The comforting aura of Inuyasha He was standing before Kagedoku. "Half breed, you have arrived at last." Kagedoku said.

"Where the hell is Kagome bastard." Inuyasha growled.

"You are a fool, just like your father was. Loving a human has made you weak and careless." he said. "Your miko will serve me, until she is no longer useful and then I will kill her and your filthy half breed pup, that she carries." Kagedoku told him.

Then Inuyasha did something totally unexpected. He smiled. Kagedoku thought he had gone mad, until he realized what was happening. The power of the miko was leaving him. "Damn that bitch. I will rip her apart, after I deal with you. Even without her power it should be easy to destroy you, since you longer have the protection of your father's fang." Kagedoku yelled.

Inuyasha laughed, a low gravely sound. Kagedoku in his ranting failed to notice that his words had sealed his fate. Kagome felt the change in him instantly. She got up and went to the window. Inuyasha had transformed. "You took what's mine and now you die." he growled.

Kagedoku looked at him. InuYasha laughed again at the fear that had started to pour from his enemy. "How? You are a half demon, but somehow you have changed..." Kagedoku started.

Inuyasha leapt at him and began his attack. For every drop of blood he cut from Kagedoku, his demon blood demanded more. Inuyasha pressed his attack, never slowing. If Kagedoku hadn't been almost as fast as Sesshomaru, he would already be dead. He dodged a swipe of Inuyasha's claws, but failed to anticipate the punch that Inuyasha sent into his chest and out the other side.

Kagome knew what was coming and she turned away from the window. She didn't fault Inuyasha for what he was going to do, Kagedoku deserved it, but she couldn't bear to watch either.

Inuyasha tore into the nearly dead demon laying before him. He wasn't satisfied until there were recognizable traces of him left. Inuyasha stood blood dripping from his claws and covering his clothes and hair. Kagome returned to the window as she felt his satisfaction with his kill wash over him. He looked up and saw her. Slowly he fought his way back from demon to hanyou, and ran into the castle.

Inuyasha grabbed the first person he saw. She screamed. "Please don't kill me. I am no one." she pleaded.

Inuyasha realized how he must look. "I'm not going to kill you." he said. "Where is Kagome? Where was he keeping the miko?"

Some of the fear left her eyes. "Are you him then? Are you Inuyasha?" she asked.

"How did you know my name?" he questioned.

"Come, I will take you to her." the woman said. "She said you would come, though I didn't believe her."

Kagome went to the door and tried to open it. No matter how hard she tried it would budge. "Inuyasha." she yelled.

As they drew closer Inuyasha heard Kagome calling his name. The women stopped at the door and tried to open it. "I have always been able to enter." she said.

"Kagome." Inuyasha called.

"Inuyasha, I can't get out." she told him.

"Back up." he said. Inuyasha reached back and threw everything he had into a single punch that went through the door destroying it completely. He stepped inside and immediately Kagome was in his arms. He held her tightly and raised her head. He kissed her with all the passion he could muster.

He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back, taking in the sight of her as he had desired so much to do, for so long. "You're hurt." he said.

"It is just a scratch." she told him. "I am fine." Inuyasha reached out and pulled her kimono closed. "Aiko, thank you for caring for me. You are free now. Kagedoku is dead."

The woman started to cry. "Thank you." she said. "After freeing me I have no right to ask, but I must. The children are trapped behind a sealed door. Could you...."

Kagome looked at Inuyasha. "Lead the way." he grumbled. He wanted nothing more to be away from here, now that he had Kagome, but this woman had taken care of his mate and led him to her. He could also understand what it was to worry about your child. Kagome's smile made it all worth it anyway.

People stared as Aiko led them through the castle. It must have been quite a sight to see a demon covered in blood with his arm around the waist of a pregnant miko, following a human. "This is it." Aiko said. "Keiko, it is grandmother. Are you there?"

"Grandmother?" A small voice asked.

"Keiko, the demon who captured us is dead. I have come to free you. You must get everyone way from the door." Aiko said.

"Yes grandmother." Keiko replied. The heard the sounds of the children moving away from the door. "We are ready grandmother."

Inuyasha stepped forward and did the same as he had done to Kagome's door. "Damn it." he said. "If I had Tetsusaiga I could do it."

Kagome put a hand on his shoulder. "Let me help you." she said.

"Kagome..." he started. Then he saw the look in her eyes and couldn't refuse. "Fine, but I don't want you passed out for days because of this. Just enough to open the door." She nodded. He wrapped his arms around her and felt his strength grow as she became heavy in his arms.

He laid her down gently, and turned back to the door. He shattered it with his fist and returned to Kagome. He felt the power leaving him and she opened her eyes. He smiled. "Inuyasha." she said softly. "Take me home." He nodded and helped her to her feet.

They made their way out of the castle. Once back in the main room they found themselves surrounded by people brandishing what weapons they could find. "We will not be enslaved again demon." A male voice yelled.

"We should kill it." another called out. They started to advance.

InuYasha was growling softly. Kagome stepped in front of him and brought her hands together. Inuyasha was about to grab her when she dropped to the floor and started chanting softly. She called up a barrier around them. The people stopped.

"The miko, she protects the demon?" many voices questioned.

Aiko stepped forward holding Kimi in her arms. "Keiko?" a woman cried. "How can this be?"

"This demon has freed us all and our children. He does not wish to control us, only to leave with his mate and return to their home." Aiko told them.

"Surely you do not believe his lies?" A man asked.

Kagome stood up, and let the barrier fall. "It is not a lie. He killed Kagedoku. He did not have to open the door that your children were held behind." Kagome said.

Murmurs broke out among the people. "She is a priestess. She would not lie. What if he controls her? You saw her power. She is too strong to be controlled in such a way. She carries his child."

"Come on Inuyasha." she said "Let's go home."

He took her hand and they headed for the door. "Wait." A woman called. "Surely there is something we can do to thank you. Please forgive us, for our fears."

"Yes please." many called.

"You own us nothing." she told them.

A man stepped forward. "Tell us your names." he said.

"I am Kagome and this is Inuyasha." she replied.

"Kagome and Inuyasha." he said. "I am the headman of our village, which is a day south of here. You and your children will always be welcome in our village."

Kagome smiled. "Thank you."

They went outside and found Kirara waiting for them. She came to Kagome and rubbed against her. "I missed you too." Kagome said rubbing her head. They climbed on Kirara and took off.

After about an hour Inuyasha pointed something out to Kirara and they landed. He led her through the trees, to a hot spring. "We could both use a bath." he said gently. She smiled. She couldn't have agreed more. He retrieved her bag from Kirara. "I brought some of your things."

Kagome opened her bag. Her bath stuff was inside as well as a few changes of clothes. She jumped into his arms. "Thank you." she said softly.

He untied her kimono as she stood before him. He looked at her stomach as it fell away. He touched it softly. "I can't help but feel that I've missed so much." he said.

"You are here now." she replied. He nodded. She pushed off his haori and undershirt and untied his hakama. "We will have to wash your clothes as well." She picked the up and carried them with her into the water. When they were clean she set the on a rock to begin drying.

Inuyasha came up behind her in the water. He put his arms around her and rested his hands on her belly. "I missed you so much." he growled pressing his lips to her ear.

She leaned against him. "I missed you too." He whined softly. "What's wrong?"

"You don't smell like me at all." he replied.

She turned around. "Then you will just have to fix that." she said with a smile.

"I can't." he told her. "I might hurt our pup."

"You won't." she breathed.

"Are you sure?" he asked. She nodded.

He captured her lips in a kiss. "I love you." he whispered.

"I love you too." she replied.

They both dressed. Kagome rode Kirara while Inuyasha ran to finish drying his clothes. That night they made camp. Kagome was surprised that Inuyasha fell asleep almost immediately. His grip on her was almost painfully tight. She rubbed his ear softly. He relaxed a little. She knew he was afraid that if he let her go, even for an instant that she would be gone. She smiled. He was going to be unbearable with his smothering for a good while after this.

It took several days to make it back to the village. Kirara landed and they heard a familiar yell. Kagome dropped to her knees. "Kagome." the young fox demon cried, falling into her open arms. "You're back."

Kagome felt tears falling down her cheeks. She had missed him. She had missed them all so much. Sango and Miroku came outside when they heard the commotion. Kagome stood with Shippou still holding tightly to her. Sango cried as she made her way as quickly as her condition would allow to her lost friend, her sister. Inuyasha wanted nothing more to take Kagome to their home and hold her, but he stopped himself. The others had missed her and he already had her all to himself for several days. Kagome and Sango embraced.

Miroku came to stand beside Inuyasha. He put his hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Well done. You saved her." he said.

"I may have killed the demon, but it was she who saved me." Inuyasha replied.

Miroku smiled. Inuyasha had changed so much and all of it was due to one small girl, who seemed so frail, yet had a reserve of inner strength greater than one could imagine. Kagome had truly been the heart of their odd group and she had saved them all at one time or another, with her arrows, and her love.

Word spread quickly at Kagome's return and the entire village came out to welcome her back. It was late in the evening by the time things settled down. "At last." Kagome said. "I am ready to go home."

She started toward Miroku and Sango's when Inuyasha grabbed her hand. "I thought you wanted to go home?" he asked.

"I do." she replied.

"Well then, you are going the wrong way." he told her. He led her to the house he had built for them. "I finished it the day he took you. I was going to show you that night but..."

"I know." she said softly. "Show me our home."

She stepped inside. There was a large main room. There was a long table for eating at and a kitchen area, with shelves and a stove. There was also a stone basin to hold water. On one side there were two separate rooms and on the other a larger room partially divided from a smaller one. She felt her tears falling again. He had built her a bed. A real bed, not a mat on the floor.

"I know it isn't much compared to what you could have had in your time..." he started.

She pressed her lips to his silencing him. "It is perfect." she said. "As long as I have you, I would have been happy in a one room hut with a dirt floor." She yawned.

He smiled and picked her up. He set her gently on the bed, and laid beside her. She snuggled close to him and let his soft growls lull her to sleep. "Kagome," he whispered. "I'm never going to let you go again."

A few days passed. Inuyasha only left Kagome's side to gather wood and hunt food. She spent her time when he was gone catching up with Sango and Kaede and telling them what had happened with Kagedoku. Each night they would return to their home and he would hold her close.

"Kagome, we have to leave soon." he said.

"Why?" She asked.

"We have to have time to get to Sesshomaru before the pup comes." Inuyasha told her. "He is supposed to be there when our pup is born."

"Be there? Like watching." she asked.

"No." Inuyasha replied. "Just in the same house, so that he can come in after."

"Oh." she said softly.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's just since mama can't be there I was hoping that Sango would be." Kagome told him.

"Then ask them to come." He said. Kagome smiled.

Then next day Kagome asked Sango and Miroku if they would come with them and they agreed. Two days later they set out. The journey would take longer, since both Kagome and Sango would need to rest often. It took a week to reach the castle. Kagome was only two weeks away from the day her pup was supposed to be born.

When they arrived both Katsuko and Sesshomaru were waiting for them. Standing with them was a female demon, who had to be much older than Sesshomaru even, since she appeared to be at least 40 years old. She was shorter than Kagome with dark brown hair and grey eyes. "This is Yuriko." Sesshomaru said. "She is a demon midwife."

The woman looked at InuYasha. "Yes, I remember your birth well. Your mother nearly died. Luckily she had a fighting spirit." Yuriko said.

"You were there when I was born?" he asked.

"I was also the one who delivered your brother, though sadly I could not save his mother. Too often the birth of poison youkai are not survived." she said sadly. "I will need to examine your mate. If you will allow me."

InuYasha nodded. He had never known that Sesshomaru's mother had died in child birth and his mother very nearly as well. The went to their room. "Is this all right with you ?" he asked Kagome. She nodded.

Yuriko laid a hand on Kagome. She seemed to be feeling for something. She did a few other things and then stopped. "She is strong and her miko energy is powerful. Hanyou births can be extremely difficult on human mothers. The chid is much stronger than a human child. Usually Hanyou's come early, but her miko powers have protected her allowing her to reach full term. I foresee no problems, but make sure you rest. You will likely need all your strength." she said.

Kagome nodded. "Hear that wench." he said. "You need to rest." Kagome rolled her eyes. Like she was going to go running around the castle anyway, especially since she could hardly walk.

"I will check you again in a few days." Yuriko said and she left.

Everything seemed to be going well. Kagome was feeling fine, only she wished the baby would come already. She thought she might be having a litter as big as she was. She shuddered at the thought. She had begged InuYasha to let her go outside for a short walk and finally he had agreed. They were on their way back when she groaned. She hadn't said anything to InuYasha, but she hoped the walk would ease the nagging pain in her lower back that she had woke up with.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing." she replied.

"It's not nothing." he said.

"It is just this backache. I hoped the walk would help, but it seems to be getting worse." she told him. He picked her up. "I can walk."

He ignored her. "We are going to see Yuriko." he said. InuYasha was really worried about her. He had never considered that it would be dangerous for Kagome to have his pups, but after hearing about his own mother he thought about it all the time. Suddenly Kagome gasped in his arms. "Uh Kagome?" he asked, feeling a dampness on the front of his haori.

"InuYasha, the baby is coming." she said.

"You're sure?" he asked.

"No, I'm kidding and I peed on you." she said. "Yes I'm sure."

As they made it inside, they found Yuriko waiting. "I was looking for you. I suspected you might deliver today." she told them. They gaped at her. "You do not deliver as many children as I have without learning a few things."

InuYasha laid Kagome on the bed. "Get Sango." she said. He nodded and left. A few minutes later he returned with Sango. She called him to her side. "Lean down." she told him. When he did she removed the beads around his neck. He started to object. "You'll thank me later. I'll put them back on after if you want."

InuYasha wondered if he should leave. Birth was women's business, but Kagome had told him that in her time the men almost always stayed in the room. She had never said if she would want him to be with her though. "Kagome, maybe I should wait outside." he said hesitantly.

"You don't want to stay with me?" she asked.

"Well..." he started.

"Please stay." she said.

"I'll stay." he replied. He couldn't refuse her anything, and when it made her smile, he didn't want to.

Afternoon turned into evening and then into night. Kagome had grown steadily louder and angrier over the course of the evening. InuYasha wondered when she had gotten so strong as he attempted to flex the fingers of his right hand, trying to get them to move. He also had learned why he would thank her for removing the beads. She had tried to sit him no less than ten times.

Just before dawn Yuriko turned motioned for Sango to get up from the bed and stand beside her. "It is time." she said. "You must push now when you feel the need." Kagome nodded. With the next contraction she let out a string of curses to rival anything InuYasha had ever said and he felt a few of the bones in his hand snap. "Good." the midwife said. "A few more to go." Ten minutes later InuYasha watched in awe as the midwife handed a baby to Sango. He was upset that he didn't get a good look at his pup, but was distracted by the next words of Yuriko. "Half way there." she said.

Both Kagome and InuYasha looked at her. "What?" they said together.

"Did you never wonder why you could not discern the sex of your child?" she asked.

"I never thought about it." he said. "I didn't know I was supposed to..."

"Push now." Yuriko interrupted.

Sango came back over and put the baby on the bed next to Kagome. InuYasha saw traces of silver hair and two little triangles laying flat against the pups head. For the next thirty minutes Kagome struggled to give birth to their second child. Finally with one last cry the baby was born. She fell back against the bed. Yuriko motioned to Sango.